Underreamer



H. E. BROWN.

UNDERREAMER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, I918. RENEWED NOV. 28. I919.

1,336,884I Patented Apr. 13, 192%.

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g -zf H. E. BROWN. UNDERREAMER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, I918. RENEWED NOV. 28, 1919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920..

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momdoz HARRY IE. BROWN, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

UNDERREAMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed September 14, 1918, Serial No. 254.048. Renewed November 28. 1919. Serial No. 341,293,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Butler and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Underreamer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to under-reamers and one of its objects is to provide a strong and durable structure which does not re-.

quire the use of spreading lugs for holding the cutters expanded but which has simple and eflicient means whereby the cutters are of the tool can be "controlled readily.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad-- vantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawingsv Figure 1 is a side elevation of the underreamer, the cutters being shown in collapsed position.

Fig. 2 is a section through the body of the tool and showing the cutters secured in active positions.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the cutters and its controlling spring.

Fig. 4 is a section on line'4--4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the cutters in the positions shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77, Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the body of the tool, provided with a central longitudinal bore 2 one end of which is counterbored, as at 3. An opening 4 extends diametrically through the body and intersects an intermediate portion of the bore 2, one end portion of this opening being flared, as shown at 5.

Seated in the open end of the bore 2 is a bushlng 6 having an angular opening 7 therethrough in which is slidably mounted the squared or angular portion 8 of a stem 9. This stem extends longitudinally within the bore 2 and has a coiled spring 10 mounted thereon and bearing at one end against the bushing 6 and, at its other end, against a nut 11 provided with peripheral openings 12. By pulling the stem 9 longitudinally the nut can be brought in line with the opening 4 and by inserting a pin into the flared end of said opening and into engagement with the nut, said nut can be adjusted along the stem to vary the compression of the spring 10. The bushing 6 can beheld against rotation and displacement in any manner desired, as by means of a pin 13 inserted into the body 1 and the peripheral portion of the bushing.

Arranged within the counterbore 3 are opposed shanks 14 having flat inner faces contacting as shown at 15 in Fig. 4, each shank having a flange 16 along one side adapted to be seated in a groove or rabbet 17 in one side of the opposed shank. Recesses 18 are formed in the meeting faces of the shanks 14 at the upper ends thereof and a pin 19 extends through the shanks and the recesses 18 and serves to connect the lower end of stem 9'to the shanks.

Formed on the lower end of each shank is a cutter 20, each cutter being diagonally disposed on the shank and having a portion extending across the end .of the opposed shank, as shown in Fig. 5. Each cutter has a shoulder 21 extending laterally therebe yond and inclined downwardly and outwardly, there being a channel 22 in each of the shouldersso proportioned that when the cutters are inactive positions, the lower edge of the body 1 will be seated therein thus to hold the cutters against inward or collapsing movement.

Each of the shanks 14 is provided in that side thereof diametrically opposite its cutter 20, with a recess 23. Thus by pulling the cutters 20 away from the body 1 and partly withdrawing the shanks 14 against the ac-' tion of the sprin 10, the channeled shoulders 21 will be disengaged from the body and the recesses 23 will be brought within the open end of the body 1, thereby allowing the shanks to swing inwardly to bring the cutters within the area defined by the circumference of the body. The tool can then be inserted into the casing of the well and lowered thereinto and, when the shoulders 21 pass below the lower end of the casing the spring 10 will force the stem 9 upwardly and cause the shanks 14 to swing relative to each other and direct the cutters beyond the wall of the body 1. This brings the shoulders 21 under the end of the body and as the movement of the cutters relative to the body continues, the channels 22 receive the lower edge of the body 1 and thus lock the cutters in expanded positions. By pulling the tool upwardly the beveled shoulders 21 will be pressed against the lower end of the body 1 and thrust off of the lower edge of the body and then collapsed inwardly, thereby swinging the cutters inwardly so that they can be withdrawn through the casing. The positions of the parts when the tool is colapsed, have been shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that during the expansion and collapse of the tool the shanks l4 slide upon each other, the expansion being limited by the ribs 16. This arrangement of the shanks enables theshanks to have relative movement without providing a space therebetween. Obviously, therefore, more metal can be employed in the construction of the parts and-the tool rendered more durable than heretofore.

It will be noted that the squared portion 8 of the stem 9 is normally seated in a square opening in the anchoredbushing 6. This serves to hold the shanks 14 against rotation while the tool is in use. The wear upon the body of the reamer can be distributed by pulling the shanks outwardly from the body 1, thus to place the spring 10 under compression and withdraw the squared portion 8 from the bushing 6. The shanks and stem can then be given a one-quarter rotation and released, thereby bringing the shanks 14 to with the resultv new positions in the body, that wear on the body 1 is equally distributed and the life of the toolprolonged. K

As there is no space in the reamer while in use and the shanks 14 completely close the open end of the body 1, gravel and mud cannot Work into the reamer and interfere with the action of the spring or of other parts of the tool.

What is claimed is An under-reamer including'a body, relatively movable shanks arranged side, by slde within the body and having their inner faces constantly in contact, a cutter at one end of each shank and extending laterally therebeyond, yielding means for exerting a constant pull upon the shanks, and means upon each cutter for lapping the outer face of one end of the body and fastening the cutters in active or laterally extended position.

2. An under-reamer includin pivotally connected shanks, yiel ing means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body, a cutter upon each shank and normally projected or expanded beyond the body, and a beveled shoulder upon the upper portion of the projecting part of each cutter provided with a channel constituting a seat for the end of the body.

3. An under-reamer including a body, pivotally connected shanks slidable within the body and fitting snugly therein, there being a recess in one side of each shank, a cutter projecting from the opposite side of each shank and beyond the body, yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body, and a beveled shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter having a channel constituting a seat for one end of the body when the shanks are in normal positions.

4. An under-reamer including a body, pivotally connected shanks slidable within the body and having flat faces constantly in contact with each other, a spring controlled stem connected to the shanks for holding the shanks normally housed in the body, each shank having a recess in one side thereof, a cutter projecting from the other side of each shank at one end thereof, said. shanks being slidable outwardly from the body and against the action of the spring controlled stem to bring the recesses into position to receive the opposed portions of the open end of the body and allow the cutters to swing inwardly under the body.

5. An under-reamer including a body,

shanks slidable within the body and adapted, when drawn therefrom, to move relative to each other, yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body, a cutter extending laterally from each shank at one end, said cutters being oppositely disposed, there being a recess in each shank adapted to receive a portion of the open end of the body when the cutters are moved away from the body and toward each other.

6. An under reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body and adapted, when drawn therefrom, to move in parallel planes relative to each other, a cutter extending laterally from each shank at one end, said cutters being oppositely disposed, there being a recess in each shank adapted to receive a portion of the open end of the body when the cutters are moved away from the body and toward each other.

7. An underreamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body and adapted,

when drawn therefrom, to move in parallelplanes relative to each other, a cutter extending laterally from each shank at one a body,

end, said cutters being oppositely disposed, there being a recess in each shank adapted to receive a portion of the open end of the body when the cutters are moved away from the body and toward each other, yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body, and means upon each cutter for receiving a portion of the open end of the body when the shanks and cutters are in normal positions.

8. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body and adapted, when drawn therefrom, to swing relative to each other in parallel planes, a cutter extending laterally from each shank at one end, said cutters being oppositely disposed, a channeled beveled shoulder upon the laterally projecting portion of each cutter and extending partly around the cutter and yielding means for. holding the shanks nor mally housed in the body and the channeled shoulders normally interlocked with the end of the body.

9. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body, a cutter upon each shank and extending laterally from one end thereof, said shanks adapted, when drawn from the body, to swing relative to each other. in parallel planes and move the cutters inwardly toward each other, a channeled beveled shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter and extending partly around the cutter, and yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body and the channeled shoulders normally interlocked with the open end of the body.

10. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body, a cutter upon each shank and extending laterally from one end thereof, said shanks adapted, when drawn from the body, to swing relative to each other and move the cutters inwardly toward each other, a channeled beveled shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter and extending partly around the cutter, and yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body and the channeled shoulders normally in engagement with the end of the body.

11. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body, a cutter upon one end of and extending laterally from each shank, said shanks adapted, when drawn from the body, to swing relative to each other and move the cutters inwardly, a channeled beveled shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter and extending partly around the cutter, and yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body and the channeled shoulders normally interlocked with the end of the body.

12. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body, a cutter upon one end of and extending laterally from each shank, said shanks adapted, when drawn from thebody, to move relative to each other and shift the cutters toward each other, a beveled shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter and provided with a channel, and yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body and one end of the body normally seated in the channels.

13. An under-reamer including a body, shanks slidable within the body, a cutter upon one end of and extending laterally from each shank, said shanks adapted, when drawn from the body, to move relative to each and shift the cutters inwardly, a grooved shoulder upon the projecting portion of each cutter, and adjustable yielding means for holding the shanks normally housed in the body and the grooved shoulders normally interlocked with the open end of the body.

14:. A11 under-reamer including a body,

shanks slidable within and closing the end of the body, cutters carried by the shanks, a stem projecting from the shanks and within the body, said stem having an angular portion, a spring for holding the stem normally in position to support the shanks in the body, and means cooperating with the angular portion of the stem while in normal position for holding the shanks and stem against rotation, said stem being movable in said means when the shanks and stem are out of normal position to permit rotation of the shanks and stem.

15. An unde'r-reamer including a body, cutter shanks slidable and revoluble within 1. the body and normally closing the end thereof, yielding means for normally supporting the shanks in the body, and means for holding the shanks against rotation in the body while yieldingly supported in normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. BROWN.

Witnesses:

SAM M. HENSEL, P. J. DEALY. 

